Automobile-axle.



PATENTED JAN. 21, 19,08.

' A. JILEHMAN.

AUTOMOBILE AXLE.. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1907.

bmaooek tubes and recelve the wheels 2 and 2a.

. body of the vehicle can also be supported on UNITED s AUTOMOBILE-Axim.

No. 876,978. l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1908.

Application filed September 27. 1907. Serial No. 394.788.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J'. LEHMAN, a citizen of the United States, -residing at Columbus, in th\\county of-Franklin and State of '-Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement ih Automobile-Axles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of th1s invention is t'o provide a cheap, simple and strong axle vespecially ada ted for use in automobnes; I

T e invention is embodied in the construction hereinafterfdescribed and claimed, reference beinghad to the accompanying draws, in which the viewlillustrat'es the interna members in full andthe external parts in section, taken longitudinally with reference to the axle; n

In said drawin lthe' characters le and 4a designate two .l tu es laced'- axially in line with each other, the a jacent or inner ends of said tubes having affixed thereto large bevel gears 5 andr 5b1 While the outer ends of said tubes containstud shafts or pins 1 and ,1a secured in place by suitable fastening devices, as for example, pins 6 and 6a driven through said tubes and the stud shafts. The stud shafts 1 and la project beyond the ends of te T e said stud shafts as `seen at 2c and 2d. Fitting closely and rotaril Wthinthe innerv portions of the tubes 4 an 4a, and between the'ends of the stud shafts 1 and 1a is a cylindrical bar 'or membei1 3 adapted to hold theA tubes 4 and to mesh with the bevel gears 5 and 5a.

4a in line and the axle, as a whole, from flexing at the middle, said bar having aflixed theretoa spider 7 containing spindles 8 to re- -ceive small'bevel gears or pinion 9 adapted The rim of the spider? is `lshown to be provided with sprocket teeth 10 to receive a driving chain. Power applied vthrough' the chain to the spider, of course, drives the tubes 4 and .4a and the wheels attached to the members 1 and la, but the intermediate gearing described permits a differential motion ofthe Wheels. The differential gearing. can be inclosed by means of a suitable housing, suitable. openings being provided from said housing for the passage of the driving chain or other driving mechanism. The housing also provides means to keep the axle from spreading.

From the construction shown it will be observed that the axle is strong and cheaply manufactured; that the tubes add great strength and the intermediate' member 3 amply braces the tubes and aHords an effe cient sup ort for the s ider.

What' claim and esire to secure by Letters Patent is y 1. In an axle, the combination of the two tubes placed axially in line with each other,

said tubes having gears affixed thereto at their inner or adjacent ends and stud shafts secured projectingly in their outer ends for the reception of the vehicle Wheels, a barv loosely inclosed within the inner portion of said tubes adapted to hold said tubes in line and brace the axle from flexirg at the middle, said bar provided with a spider, a gear on said spider to mesh with the said gears on tlie tube, and means whereby said spider may be 2. In an axle, the combination of the two tubes placed axially in line with each other,

ERNEST F. KoPsoH, WILLIAM H. SCHULZ. 

